Draft coupler and uncoupling apparatus



Aug. 4, 1959 E. A. LARSSON 2,897,982

` DRAFT COUPLER AND UNcouPLING APPARATUS r Filed oct. 14, 1955 4 sneets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY` Aug. 4,' 1959 E. A. LARssoN 2,897,932

DRAFT couPLER AND uNcouPLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 14, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 OOOOOOO INVENToR. Erns1A.Lorsso- ATTORNEY.

Aug. 4, 19-59 E. A. LARSSON DRAFT COUPLER AND UNCOUPLING APPARATUS Filed 001.. 14, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.. Ernst A. LorssON AT'roRNEY.

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Allg- 4, 1959 E. A. LARssoN 2,897,982

DRAFT COUPLER AND uNcouPLING APPARATUS Filed oct. 14. 1955 4 sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Ernst AlorssO-N g BY v D A @if um@ ATTORNEY.

Unite States Patent die DRAFT coUPLER AND UNcoUrLlNG APPARATUS Ernst A. Larsson, Mansfield, Ohio, assigner to The Ohio Brass Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application October 14, 1955, Serial No. 540,461

9 Claims. (Cl. 213-100) This invention relates to draft couplers for railroad cars, and also to uncoupling apparatus for such couplers. An object of the invention is to provide an uncoupling apparatus for draft couplers which is adapted to be operated from either or both sides of the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide an uncoupling 4'apparatus which is adapted to be operated in conjunction with auxiliary switching and uncoupling apparatus for electric air lines and the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved locking mechanism vfor draft couplers which provides a positive locking action, which is easily unlocked, and which will not move into the unlocked position unless positively operated.

In coupling arrangements for rail cars and the like in which electric and air line couplers 'are combined with draft couplers, it is necessary that the electric circuits be opened and the air lines closed before the draft coup- 1ers are uncoupled to disconnect the cars, in order to prevent excessive burning and pitting of the electric contacts and to prevent loss of pressure in the air system of the train. The arrangements of the prior art are unsatisfactory for various reasons, particularly when applied to the so-called articulated train, and the coupling apparatus disclosed and described herein has been devised for the purpose of providing a system which will insure positive operation at all times and yet be safe and reliable. In particular, there is disclosed and described herein an uncoupling apparatus which is adapted to be operated from either side of the car and, in conjunction therewith, a draft coupler having a new type of locking mechanism which is particularly adapted for use with such uncoupling mechanism.

The invention, together with otherv objects, features, and advantages thereof, will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following detailed description and claims taken in connection with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the coupler of the invention with the top part broken away to show the novel locking mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the coupler taken in the direction 2 2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the coupler of Fig. 1 with the head of the coupler partly broken away;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing the coupler of Fig. 1 as installed in a car with the one-sided uncoupling mechanism of the invention; Y i

Fig. 5 is an elevation view showing the coupler and uncoupling apparatus of Fig. 4 taken from the end of the car in therdirection 5--5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan View showing the coupler of Fig. 1

as installed in a car with the two-sided uncoupling apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 7 is an end View of the coupler and uncoupling.-

apparatus of Fig. 6 taken in the direction 7-7 in 28923982 Patented Aug. 4, 1959 knuckle 15, and a recess 16 for cooperating with the Corresponding parts on a mating coupler.

The coupler 10 has a cast steel housing 17 which supports a vertically disposed pin 18 which serves as a pivot for the knuckle 15. The knuckle 15 has a outer or coupling portion 19 and an inwardly extending portion 20 which is disposed within the housing 17. The knuckle 15 swings about the pin 18 and is held by a fixed stop 21 and a spring pressed plunger 2.2 at one side thereof, and by a locking mechanism, designated generally at 23, at the other side thereof. The locking mechanism 23 comprises a locking member 24 which engages the locking face 25 of the knuckle 15 along one side thereof and bears upon a longitudinal abutment 26 along the other side thereof. The guide member 26 constitutes a separate member which is attached to the housing by pins 27 and receives the forces transmitted from the knuckle 15 lby the locking member 24. An associated guide member 23 is disposed on the opposite side of the locking member 24 and constrains the ylocking member 24 particularly when the member is in an unlocked position.

The locking member 24 is held in a normally locking position by a locking spring 29 which extends from the locking member through a tubular guide piece 30 to bear rupon the iiange portion 31 of the guide piece which is supported by a transverse abutment 32. A guide rod 33 extends from the inner end of the locking member 24 into the guide piece 30 which thereby serves to assist and guide the locking member 24 in its movement into and from the locking position. The guide rod 33 is coupled to an unlocking lever 34 by means of a link 35 which extends through an opening 36 in the abutment 32 and is attached to the guide rod 33 by means of a universal ball and socket joint 37 and is loosely connected to the unlocking lever 34 by means of a tongue and clevis arrangement 38. 4

The unlocking lever 34 is supported at one side of the housing 17 by means of a pin 39 which is carried by two outwardly projecting pieces` and serves as a pivot for the lever. The lever 34 extends transversely through the housing and projects through a slot 4t) which extends longitudinally of the housing and permits the end of the lever to be moved in the direction of the pivot 13 to unlock the knuckle 15. As is explained hereinafter, the end 41 of the lever 34 is adapted to be connected to an operating cable which is reeved through a pulley 42, a transverse opening 43 in the housing, and a pulley 44.

K The slot 40 has a recess 45 formed in the housing along the lower part of the slot toward the head end of the coupler. The recess 45 is so disposed that when the locking member 24 is in a locking position the unlocking lever 34 drops into the recess -45 so that by reason of the weight of the lever, a locking means is provided for the locking member 24 to hold the member in its locked position. The arrangement effectively prevents any creep or working of the locking member 24 so that the knuckle cannot become unlocked during ordinary use. When, however, an unlocking force is exerted by the cable, previously referred to, the vertical component of force exerted upon the lever 3'4, by reason of the disposition of the pulley 42 above the level of the recess 45 and the end 41 of the operating lever, tends to lift the'lever Afrom the recess and permit the lever to be drawn 3 to the unlocking position. The body 12 is formed with inwardly directed wall portions 46 and 47 to provide ways for operating cables reeved about only one of the pulleys 42 and 44.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, the coupler 10 is therein shown in connection with the novel uncoupling apparatus of the invention. The coupler and an associated electric and air coupler 49 is supported from the frame of a car by means of a suitable arrangement including two longitudinally extending members 50 and 51 and a pin 52 which carries the pivot 13 of the coupler housing. The coupler 10 and the members 50 and 51 are arranged at the end of a car with an opening 53 in the end wall 54 of the car to permit the coupler to swing laterally about the pivot pin 52.

The uncoupling apparatus includes an uncoupling mechanism 55 which serves to actuate the unlocking lever 34 of the coupler to unlock the coupler and also operates a drum switch 56 for opening and closing the electric circuits of the coupled cars and a valve (not shown) through a shaft coupler 57 for closing and opening the air circuits of the cars. The electric and air circuits just referred to are connected between adjacent cars by the coupler 49 of Fig. 5.

The mechanism 55 comprises a vertically disposed coupler operating lever 58 which is supported at its upper end by a bracket 59 attached to the end wall 54 of the car. The lever 58 has a handle 60 at its lower end and is connected to the unlocking lever 34 of the coupler by means of a cable 61. The cable 61 is attached to an eyelet 62 formed on the lever 58 just below the pivot 59 and passes over a pulley 63 which is supported by the longitudinal member 50 and over the pulleys 44 and 42 to the operating lever 34. When the handle 60 is pulled outwardly, the unlocking lever 34 is drawn toward the pin 52 to withdraw the locking member and permit the cars to become unlocked.

The drum switch 56 is operated by a switch lever 64 which is mounted upon the shaft 65 of the drum switch 56 at its outer end and which carries a handle 66 at its outer end. A bell crank arm 67 constitutes a part of the lever 64 and extends downwardly from the shaft 65 to connect to an over-center link 68. The over-center link 68 comprises two relatively movable members held apart by a spring and carried by a mounting plate 69 which is attached to the end wall 54 of the car. The arm 67 and over-center link 68 serve to hold the lever 64 in a horizontal position corresponding to a closed condition of the switch 56 or a downwardly projecting positionY corresponding to an open conditionof the switch 56.

The coupler operating lever 58 and handle 60 and the switch lever 64 and handle 66 are so arranged that the lever 58 can be moved only when the lever 64 and handle 66 are inthe downward position corresponding to the open position of the switch 56. The lever 64 has an inwardly extending projection 69 which engages a ange 70 which extends along the outside or adjacent part of the lever 58. The ange 70 terminates somewhat below the normal horizontal or switch-closed position of the lever 64 `so that when the lever 64 and handle 66 are in that position the handle 60 and lever 58 cannot be operated to unlock the coupler 10. However, after the lever 64 has been moved to the downward or switch-open position, the projection 69 is moved out of alignment with the flange 70 so that the handle 60 can be operated to unlock the coupler.

Referring now to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, there is shown an embodiment of the invention in which the coupler 10 is associated with an uncoupling apparatus which is adapted to be operated from either side of the car. The coupler is arranged at the rear end of a car, as in Figs. 4 and 5, to constitute a lead coupler and the uncoupling apparatus constitutes particularly a left-hand uncoupling mechanism 75 and a right-hand unccupling mechanism 76. An electric and air coupler corresponding to the coupler 49 of Figs. 4 and 5 is not shown.

The uncoupling mechanism 75, corresponds generally to the uncoupling mechanism 55 in Figs. 4 and 5 and is associated with a drum switch 77 and a valve shaft coupler 78 corresponding to the switch 56 and shaft coupler 57 in Fig. 4. A switch lever 79 having a handle 80 is secured to the shaft 81 of the drum switch 77 and an over-center link 82 is attached to a bell crank 83 as in the previous arrangement. lever 84 having a handle 85 is connected to the unlocking lever 34 by means of a cable 86 which is reeved through pulleys 87, 44, and 42 respectively. A projection 88 on the switch lever 79 and a ange 89 on the coupler operating lever 84 interlock the two levers as previously described.

ln the present embodiment of the invention, and as shown particularly in Fig. 7, the right-handed coupling mechanism 76 incorporates a coupler operating lever 90 having a pivot 91 at its upper end corresponding to the coupler operating lever 84 and `the pivot 92 of the lefthanded uncoupling mechanism, and having a handle 93 at its lower end. The lever is connected to the unlocking lever 34 of the coupler 10 by means of a cable 94 which is reeved about a pulley 95, supported by the frame 96, and about the pulley 42 with the cable 86. When the 4handle 93 is pulled outwardly, the operating lever 34 is moved toward the coupler pivot pin 97 to unlock the coupler 10.

The mechanism 76 includes a switch lever 98 which corresponds with the switch lever 79 of the mechanism 75 and is mounted upon a bracket 99. The switch lever 98 is connected to the switch lever 79 by means of a transversely extending rod 100 which is attached to an arm 101 of the lever 98 and to an arm 102 which extends downwardly from the off-set portion 103 of the lever 79. The lever 98 is provided with an inward projection 104 and the lever 90 with a flange 105 to constitute an interlock similar to that between the levers 79 and 8,4 and that between levers 58 and 64. Consequently, the handle 93 of the coupler operating lever 90 can be operated only after the handle 106 and the switch lever 98 have been moved to a downward position.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to restrict the scope of the invention and that various rearrangements of the parts and modifications of the design may be resorted to, giving effect to a liberal interpretation to the claims as herein set forth.

I claim:V

l. In a coupler of the type which includes a housing, a horizontally movable coupling knuckle at one end thereof, with a portion of the knuckle projecting into the housing, a longitudinal abutment opposed to the said projecting portion of the knuckle and transversely spaced therefrom, a knuckle locking member arranged to slide longitudinally into a locking position between the said longitudinal abutment and the said projecting portion, a transverse abutment spaced toward the opposite end of the housing from the longitudinal abutment and knuckle and a spring between the transverse abutment and the locking member for urging the locking member into the said locking position, that improvement in knuckle release means which comprises a vertical pivot at one side of the housing, a longitudinal slot in the housing horizontally opposed to said pivot, a horizontally movable unlocking lever mounted on the said vertical pivot and extending transversely through the housing and the said slot and projecting from the housing at an operating end thereof, flexible connecting means within the housing extending from the unlocking lever to the locking member for moving the locking member against the spring and toward the transverse abutment to unlock the knuckle, and a recess in the housing along the bottom of a portion of the slot adjacent the abutment for receiving and Likewise, a coupler operating normally holding the unlocking lever when the locking member is in the said locking position.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, the housing having vertical pivot means at the remaining end thereof, and a pulley mounted on the coupler housing adjacent the said pivot means for carrying an operating cable to the operating end of the unlocking lever, said pulley being positioned above the level of the recess at the bottom of the slot whereby the operating cable exerts a lifting force upon the operating end of the unlocking lever during unlocking movement of the cable.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 in which the means extending from the unlocking lever to the locking member includes a guide rod rigidly mounted in the locking member at the locking end thereof and extending through the locking member toward the lever end thereof, a tubular guide piece coaxially 'about the guide rod and extending from the transverse abutment into the locking member and a link extending from the rod to the unlocking lever with a universal joint connection from the link to the rod and a loose tongue and clevis connection from the link to the lever to permit the lever to move in a vertical plane.

4. The invention in accordance with claim l, the housing having a pivot at an end thereof on the opposite side of the unlocking lever from the knuckle for permitting the coupler to swing lin a horizontal plane and two pulleys on opposite sides of the coupler housing adjacent the said last named pivot for carrying an operating cable from the end of the operating end of the unlocking lever and thereby forming a virtual center for the cable to permit the unlocking lever to be manipulated from a position laterally opposite the knuckle whatever the lateral position of the coupler and the said pulleys being positioned above the level of the recess `at the bottom of the slot whereby the unlocking lever is lifted from the recess to unlock the coupler by drawing the operating cable through a pulley.

5. An uncoupling apparatus adapted to be mounted at the end of a car for unlocking a draft coupler to uncouple the car fromV an adjacent car comprising a vertically disposed coupler operating lever with a pivot at the upper end thereof and a handle at the lower end thereof for operating a coupler control cable, a switch operating mechanism comprising a horizontal shaft extending outwardly from the end of the car with a radial operating lever transversely disposed across the outside of the coupler operating lever and a radially extending arm, an over-center linkconnected to the arm and a mount for the over-center link adapted to be secured to the end of the car, and means interlocking the said levers comprising a flange along the outside of the coupler operating lever and a projection on the inside of the switch lever and outwardly from the coupler operating lever for holding the coupler operating lever when the switching lever is normally disposed in a horizontal position and in one position of the over-center link and releasing the coupler operating lever when the switching lever is disposed in a downward position and in a second position of the over-center link.

6. An uncoupling apparatus adapted to be mounted at the end of a car for unlocking a draft coupler to uncouple the car from an adjacent car comprising a rst coupler operating mechanism adapted to be mounted at one side of the car including a vertically disposed coupler operating lever with a pivot at the upper end thereof and a handle at the lower end thereof for operating a coupler control cable, a switch operating mechanism cornprising a horizontal shaft extending outwardly fromthe end of a car with a radial operating lever transversely disposed across the outside of the coupler operating lever and a radially extending arm, an over-center link connected to the arm and a mount for the over-center link adapted to be secured to the end of a car and means interlocking the said levers comprising a ilange along the outside of a coupler operating lever and a projection on the inside of the switch lever and outwardly from the coupler operating lever, a second operating mechanism adapted to be mounted on the other side of the car and with a similar coupler operating lever, switching lever and interlock and a rod extending transversely between the said two named switch levers for holding the coupler operating levers when the switching levers are normally disposed in a horizontal position and in one position of the over-center link and for releasing either coupler operating lever when its associated switching lever is disposed in a downward position and ina second position of the over-center link for unlocking the coupler from either side of the car.

7. Coupler apparatus for mounting at the end of car including in combination, a coupler comprising a housing with ahead at one end thereof, a vertical pivot at an opposite end thereof for horizontally movable support of the coupler by the car, and a transversely disposed horizontally movable unlocking lever'intermediate the head and the pivot, an uncoupling apparatus at one side of the coupler comprising a coupler operating lever pivoted on a lixed support on the car, a cable connecting the coupler operating lever to the unlocking lever of the coupler, a plurality of pulleys for traveling the cable from the unlocking lever to the coupler operating lever including a pulley on the coupler housing adjacent the pivot and forming a virtual center for the cable, a switch operating lever pivoted on a xed support on the car and normally disposed transversely across the coupler operating lever, and an interlock between the operating lever and the switch lever comprising a flange on the coupler operating lever and a projection on the switch lever engaged by the flange for holding the operating lever against movement when the switch is in the said normal position.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 with means for normally holding the unlocking lever in a locked position, comprising a recessin the coupler housing and in which the pulley, carried by the housing, is po sitioned vertically above the coupler unlocking lever for lifting the unlocking lever from the reecss to unlock the coupler when the coupler operating lever is moved.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 7 with an over-center link connected to the switch lever and to a xed mount therefor on the car for holding the switch in either of two operating positions.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 515,719 Reagan Feb. 27, 1894 989,945 Christianson Apr. 18, 1911 1,094,721 Kelso Apr. 28, 1914 1,726,508 Van Dorn Aug. 27, 1929 1,891,660 Tomlinson Dec. 20, 1932 1,989,894 Tomlinson Feb. 5, 1935 2,093,622 Shacikoski Sept. 21, 1937 

